A soft groan left my lips as my eyes angrily opened to sunlight peaking through the curtains. I flip over and bury my face in Dion's chest, refusing to wake up and face the world. I'd much prefer to stay in his warm arms and inhale his rich sent then even think about getting out this bed and having to put on a bra and pants.

Yet despite my tiredness, I couldn't force myself back to sleep. My mind had already begun to be active and I found myself getting antsy in his arms. I peek up at him and smile at his sleeping face, "So cute.." I whisper softly and press a kiss to his chin.

"I should make him some breakfast.. Pancakes with sausage?.. nah..bacon." I think to myself and slowly start to untangle myself from him. Even in his sleep he was clingy as his arms moved like vines to wrap around me again and force me back in his chest. I pout and move his arms again but he pulls me back but this time with his leg over mines.

"Diooooon!" I whine and listen to him grumble beside me. "I have to pee." And just like magic he moved his legs and arms off me, "Quick.. and close the curtain." He mumbled and shoved his face in the pillows. I press a kiss to his neck before sliding out the bed and putting on my slippers. I quickly closed the curtains before making my way to the kitchen, humming softly to myself.

It had been a while since we had a calm morning together and I wanted to make it special, "And convince him to never leave my side again." I would admit any day that I grew way more attached to him than anyone I've ever known. He felt like another half of me that was always missing and not having him by my side low-key took a toll on my mental.

My hands moved quickly as I stirred the pancake mix. I open up in the cabinet and grab some chocolate chips and sigh softly, "Is it okay to be attached to him like this?" The thought made me frown.

Dion pushed the idea of me being independent yet I still found myself crazily addicted to him. Is it really growth if I break an attachment of one person to form another one with the next? How am I supposed to learn to be independent if I don't let myself grow alone?

My stomach turned as I poured the pancakes onto the pan, letting them sizzle and slowly begin to bubble. I grab my spatula and wait for the rings.

I met Dion at my lowest and though he built me up, I always stood in his shadow and tried to follow his every step and word to be better without ever pausing to think, "How can I help myself by myself?"

Alicia pushed me to be independent under her eye and barely offered help while Dion instructed me through every step and kept me under his caring wing. Both of them had good intentions but gave too much of what the other lacked.

I sigh softy and put the golden pancakes on a big plate before starting to place the bacon on the searing pan. I watch them begin to cook before setting the coffee maker and starting it, the kitchen starting to smell like a big Sunday breakfast. My stomach rumbles and my mouth watered at the pancakes but I restrained myself as I looked back to the bacon.

I lean against the counter and play with the spatula in my hand, "Then there's Gianna.. My first big girl lesson." My chest pained at the thought of the girl. I had let myself grow a strong connection with someone with ill intentions. I threw any common sense out the window when I met her because I wanted to form a friendship so bad but only for it to blow up in my face.

"Why do I attract such toxic people?.. What did I do in my life to make people want to hurt and use me so bad?.." I couldn't even think of an answer as I thought about my ex. He was so sweet and loving towards me in the beginning. Waking me up with kisses and sending flowers to the hospital front desk to surprise me every Sunday. I fell so deeply in love with him that when he hit me, it didn't click in my mind that I needed to escape or he's an abuser. The only thing I thought was I did something to hurt a loving man.

I shake the thoughts out my head and look to the burning bacon. I gasp and quickly take it off the pan and into the plate with the bacon. I hiss softly at the heat and turn off the stove, "Dangit." I curse and frown at the slightly charred bacon. I wanted to kick my own butt for letting it burn but I knew Dion would wake up soon and I don't have time to dilly dally.

I grab his favorite mug and fill it with coffee, milk, and sugar before stirring it and placing it on a tray, "Coffee, check!" I grab the food and place it cutely on the tray with it and smile as I stack the pancakes to look like eyes and the bacon to form a little smile, "Bacon? Check. Pancakes? Check!" I sing softy to myself before stirring in the other room made me jump into action as I quickly picked the tray up and hurriedly walked to the bedroom. I stop just before the doorway and take a deep breath to calm my racing heart, "You've done this before.. just be casual." I remind myself and slowly walk through the door.

Dion sat up in bed with his phone in his hand. He looked up and smiled as his eyes landed on me, "Breakfast in bed?.. What did I do to earn it?" He teased and I shyly giggles I inched towards him. He tapped the bed and I move to set the food down but he stopped me with his hand, "Aht Aht.. You know what I want." I shake my head and smiled as I moved to sit in his lap instead, resting the tray on my lap. He smiles as his hands moved to hold my thighs, "It smells good, baby.. And you made it smile." He laughed softly and I couldn't help my blush as I nodded my head quickly, "W-We didn't spend a lot of mornings together so I made it special." I explain and he hummed softly, "Then I'll make dinner because we spending the whole day together." My smile could have ripped me in half as I almost jumped from excitement. If this tray wasn't in my lap I would be doing cartwheels.

"What are we gonna do today?" I begin to cut the pancakes and feed him a bite. He moans softy, "Chocolate chip?! Yeah you gettin dicked down after this." I laughed loudly as he happily chewed, a content smile on his face, "We doing anything you want, baby." I clap my hands excitedly before feeding him another piece, "I was thinking we redecorate for fall and winter because thanksgiving and Christmas is coming so we gotta fit the theme, duh! And I was hoping to make more friends for thanksgiving but I don't think I have enough time now so we can just do our own!" He bummed and nodded his head before pausing, "Baby.. You wanted a big thanksgiving?" I paused before nodding my head, "Yeah.. I was gonna invite Gianna and make more friends but it didn't work out.." I couldn't help my pout at the thought of her.

"We can go make some friends.. I'll introduce you to people at work or we can go to a party or something." His hand came up to hold my cheek and I shrug lightly, "Nah. I wanna natural friendship.. Like we happen to cross paths or something.." He hums softy, "Do you have older friends?.. like people you used to talk to before your ex?" I hands paused at the thought.

I had plenty of friends before my ex.

The thought never crossed my mind because he didn't let me see them anymore. They used to invite me out all the time but he didn't like that and made me block them and then quit my job.

"Oh my gosh." Realization slowly sunk in and I look at Dion, "I haven't talked to them in years!! They probably hate me!" Dion was quick to shake his head as tears began to form in my eyes, "You don't know that.. Just hit them up and see what happens." I shook my head and look to my lap, busying my hands but cutting up his food, "You know I can't do that! If they hate me.. I-I'd hate myself even more." Dion's hands gently landed on mines and I couldn't bring myself to look in his eyes. "Jocelyn." His voice was firm as he leaned forward to catch my eyes, "Dont hate yourself.. You are doing amazing with getting better. Don't let other people bring you down like that." I nod my head slowly and shove a pancake in my mouth, trying to calm my overwhelming urge to just cry like a baby.

He leaned forward to press a kiss to my lips, "You still got their numbers?" I shake my head no and he hums softly, "If you remember their names then I can find them.. That sound good?" He cooed softy and I was about to nod my head before I paused, "I-I wanna find them.." I speak up and he nodded his head, "Okay, baby.. Now tell me what else you wanted to do today." I smile and press a kiss to his lips, "I just wanna cuddle for now.." He smiles and grabs the tray before placing it on the bedside table, "Then we can cuddle as long as you want." I more than happily wrapped my arms around him as my cheek planted right on his chest, making him laugh softy. His hand rubbed slow circles on my back before he pressed a gentle kiss to my head.

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Our baby did a lot of thinking today and I'm proud of her for learning and adapting to her new life so well 🥺

This story is gonna have a wholesome ending and dats on period.